Fire-kindler



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL S. BOBST, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIRE-KINDLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 415,808, dated. November 26, 1889.

Application filed May 21, 1889. Serial No. 311,618. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL S. BOBST, a citizen of the United States, residing at Reading, in the county of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Fire-Kindlers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention consists in a new compound adapted to facilitate the kindling of a hardwood or coal fire, and also to furnish sufficient heat by its own combustion for such temporary uses as would not require the kindling of an ordinary fire. The object is to furnish such a compound in a convenient, compact, and economical form, and at the same time to avoid any danger of explosion or sudden spread of fire, such as is incident to the too-frequent use of inflammable oils or similar substances.

The materials employed in producing my compound and the best method known of combining them to produce the most desirable article for the purpose intended I will now proceed to describe.

Presuming that a comparatively small quantity is to be made, the operation being substantially the same with any amount, a gallon of inflammable oil-such as ordinary coal-oilis placed in a kettle with about a pound and a half of the settlings of common rosin-soap after boiling, and is heated,

preferably by steam, to boiling, which is continued only until the settlings are melted. It is then allowed to cool down considerably and about an ounce of lamp-black is added and well mixed with it.

The lamp-black serves to color and also give body to the compound, which can be packed in parchment-paper or equivalent material in suitable shapes and size without danger of the oily matter in the compound exuding.

The settlings of common rosin-soap above by applying it with a flat stick or by any convenient means to the surface of the wood or coal which is to be used in building a fire. No special care is required in applying it, as it may be put on in small lumps or spread n a thin layer, or the package may be put in whole and ignited. In either case it burns for a considerable length of time without melting sufficiently to drop from the material on which it has been placed, and thelatter is readily ignited before the compound has been consumed. This avoidance of the running of the compound when heated by its own flame is almost essential to the successful use of the kindler, a portion of which would otherwise drop through the grate or to the bottom without being of any benefit. When it is desired to make thecompound burn longer and more slowly, I add to it a proportion of pulverized fuel, such as coal dust or screenings, sawdust, or charcoal. When this pulverized fuel is added to it, the combustion is slower, but more heat is generated in proportion, and the compound. may be used directlyfor cooking or heating purposes, as well as for facilitating the lighting of solid fuel when desired. In either casethat is, with or without the pulverized fuelthe compound is perfectly safe. A mass of it can be lighted and it will burn only on the surface, and a blast of air will blow it out without the slightest danger of explosion or spreading.

\Vhat I claim is 1. A fire-kindling compound consisting of an inflammable oil, the settlings of common rosin-soap, and lamp-black, prepared substantially in the manner and proportions described.

2. A fire-kindling compound consisting of an inflammable oil, the settlings of common rosin-soap, lamp-black, and a pulverized fuel, all prepared substantiallyin the manner and proportions described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL -S. BOBST. Witnesses:

WILLIAM B. HOMBERGER, JOSEPH WEErz. 

